Bachelor Button is acclaimed as a first work for Kathleen L. Maher. I look forward to seeing more stories from this Christian woman who writes! Between spinning stories, Kathleen keeps a couple literary blogs and networks actively with other authors to stimulate her writing talents.

A country with a heart and soul cramp — The War Between the States led to serious pain from one end of the country to the other. Yet, interconnection and helpful Christian neighboring and compassion were a present unguent to begin and continue healing. Refreshing reflection of real life where people of different cultures, doctrines or convictions live in courteous and compassionate harmony. No matter what the media and war mongers tell us, there are neighbors who do help and care for their neighbors.

In Bachelor’s Buttons, Kathleen L. Maher uses historical documents and her personal family history to weave a romantic adventure that covers but a few hours in the heart of New York City during the Civil War. At time when fear stalked the ‘little’ people who were pawns for politicians, regardless of race. The dreaded draft of emigrants from Ireland and the fear of losing subsistence jobs — they had starved once and were loathe to do it again — and the fear of the unknown dark people fleeing slavery toward a free life were heavy and confusing burdens to bear.

Unacceptable, but understandable, violence and rioting, born of this spirit of fear, tore through the inner streets at the same moment that Rose Meehan needs the assistance of both of her presumed suitors, their skills and their connections to bring rescue for first her toddler brother, then for Rose herself. Rose is faced with the crises of family along with knowing that she will choosing between the poor, working violinist and the established doctor for her future. One of these bachelors is the love of her life,

Ms. Maher writes quickly (this 3rd volume in Murray Pura’s Cry of Freedom is not very long.), but with riveting description and feeling. We join Rose, William Lee and Dr. Ian Guinness as they risk life and limb to be out during the riots surrounding the outrage about the draft and the influx of a different race. Readers will be drawn in; right there with them as people from both races, Irish** and Black stepped forward to help and protect neighbors from the mindless mob.

Which will bachelor Rose choose? And award him a bright flower from her garden? Give yourself a rich reading treat — add this volume and the others to your collection so you can find out.

**Even in the 20th century, one of my great-great-grandmothers had ‘Irish’ listed as her race on her death certificate — a certificate attested to by my grandfather’s signature.

I also reviewed Bachelors Button at Ozarks Mystique, Amazon.com, and GoodReads. Murray Pura’s Cry of Freedom series follows different facets of the War Between the States in the 19th century.

Other reviewers have described The Last Waltz as poetry and I agree with them. Of all the stories I read by one of my favorites, Murray Pura, this story flows elegantly and poetically through a day in the life of a man and a woman, Mitchell and Charity Davis, enduring the War Between the States.

The Civil War has separated the members of this family, scattering a father and sons from corner to corner in the battling states while the mother has stayed with the farm doing the best that she can do. That best is truly amazing.

Their faith, regardless of their politics, has brought the couple one marvelous day together. They spend every second in joy and in preparedness for the days to come, following the promises of Scripture. Promises to King Hezekiah in the prophecy of Isaiah and to all in Psalm 23 create the peace of joy of their day together which includes time spent waltzing to candlelight — a gift in Charity’s eyes and an answer to faithful prayer on Mitchell’s part.

The inspiration for Cry of Freedom has come from a sense in Murray Pura’s heart that God reigns and tomorrow is in the hands of the angels through the ravages of war and the days that follow. As I read The Last Waltz many questions and imaginations were raised. I hope you will find the puzzles in the story and I will leave them for you! I can promise you will be deeply stirred in your spirit.

I highly recommend this release of the second story in the Cry of Freedom Collection. I will be reviewing this story at the Amazon page and GoodReads plus other venues. I bought this copy for my Kindle Fire.

Return to Shirley Plantation is the first volume in the Murray Pura’s Cry of Freedom series. There will be more good reading to come.

Set in the heat of the Civil War, Carrie Fancett Pagels‘ novella revolves around the amazing and REAL Shirley Plantation where wounded soldiers were treated in exchange for protection from the ravages of war that destroyed many of the plantation homes of the south, wreaking havoc and misery on all races and persons.

This story approaches a unique point of view for the War and Emancipation.Several of the main characters are of mixed race ancestry. They are in a more risky position and disrespected by evil on both sides of the war of mixed race ancestry. Not much detail is provided in the story (it is a novella and not a long book) about their parents, except that at least two sets of parents appear to be a love match which was illegal if not uncommon during the era.

The Northern balance character, Michael Scott was raised in the North, but conscripted by the Confederacy to serve in that army. “Shanghaied” is a fitting term as he was snatched off the streets of a non-identified southern Ohio town.

During the time that Shirley Plantation was set up as a field hospital to care for the wounded and dying, particularly Union soldiers, the Shirley family were active participants in the care giving; one member of the family, Dr. Carter served as surgeon and doctor for the patients. In this story, the plantation inhabitants, free and slave worked the fields to produce food for the patients. The Carter family and their slaves practice Christianity and employ faith. When the Union armies first arrive, the family makes every effort to protect the light skinned people by including them in the family story. Faith and obedience to God’s will shows up in the story multiple times when that will worked out better than the obedient expected. Scott and another friend see their faith strengthened and renewed through their experiences.

As expected, all ends well with Angelina and Matthew returning North with safe passage in the height of war. A sweet romance with no profanity, violence or steamy sex scenarios.

You can let your home schoolers read about historic events safely and set them onto research about the Shirley Plantation.

The author is familiar with Shirley Plantation and clearly loves the historical spot. I know it is a novella, but I would have enjoyed even more detail about the buildings and furnishings. Images that we do have show an unusual architecture, different from the typical Antebellum plantation that we see in movies. Given that the plantation is noted as the first plantation in Virginia (1613) and the oldest family-owned business in the United States, I expect one should not expect a movie appearance.

Bohea! Learned something new when I thought I found a type to end all typos! I was certain from the flow of the story that the intention was TEA, but this arrangement of letters looked as if the writer dropped her head on the keyboard. Fingers couldn’t have made such a typo! BUT it is not a typo; it is the name of a very strong, black tea from China which was popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. Later,(after Civil War times) the name bohea was ascribed to an inferior tea grown late in the season, according to Wikipedia.

The book is not a high pressure adventure or angst filled drama. It is a pleasure read about things that are fictional, but almost certainly occurred in some form and fashion. While I may have wished for more detail about architecture and furnishing, it performs the task of a novella. The story is told with necessary information to get us from the first page to the last and is satisfying in that format. There are other places where I can learn more about the way Shirley Plantation looked in 1862. Meeting these form requirements with a decent presentation and excellent editing go a long way with me when I’m reading a book about anything.

I had one problem with my Kindle Fire, plus my Kindle PC app and the formatting. That was solved by simply reading the book with a white background as the formatting is odd with the sepia background. Random lines are selected and appear white. White is not the highlight color for the sepia background. This condition in no way the quality of the story, simply the delivery. I found a quick solution so I could continue reading and enjoying.